Short barrel .22LR test results

John from MD · Nov 11, 2017

Periodically I test ammo for penetration for the guns that I carry. My tests are not scientific and only show penetration relative to the other rounds that I fired.
Today I tested four types of Hyper velocity .22LR ammo.

The revolver I used was a NAA 22MAG with a .22LR cylinder with 15/8 in barrel.

The medium I was shooting at was a piece of kiln dried oak four inches thick 10 feet away.

The ammo was

CCI Stinger, 32gn plated HP, adv. velocity 1640fps
CCI Copper, 21gn copper/polymer, adv. velocity 1850fps
CCI Mini Mag, 40g plated RN, adv. velocity 1235fps
Aguilla Interceptor, 40gn plated TC, adv. velocity 1470fps

Penetration

Mini Mag 1.5 inch
Agullia 1.5/16 inch
CCI Copper 15/16 inch
CCI Stinger 3/4 inch

Another round of slow fire off hand gave me a 2 inch group at 10 feet. Not bad for a really small revolver. :thumbsup:

DSC729 · Nov 27, 2017

Excellent!!

John from MD · Nov 27, 2017

Thanks.

Doctor_M · Nov 27, 2017

I'm surprised that the Stingers didn't do better than that. Thanks for posting.

John from MD · Nov 27, 2017

I think it has to do with the hollow point. For years I carried Stingers in my Beretta 20 as a backup. Back then, Stingers were the fastest .22 around and the magazines gave them good reports. In recent years, more data has become available and even comes from laymen making their own tests. Live and learn.

Melnic · Nov 28, 2017

how many samples of each did you test penetration?
A sample of 1 is not often a good statistical measurement.

It does however stand to reason that a hollow point would expand an slow down faster in wood.

I also wonder if the speed of the powder differs in the stinger where it might perform better in a rifle?

campns · Nov 28, 2017

Melnic said:
how many samples of each did you test penetration?
A sample of 1 is not often a good statistical measurement.

It does however stand to reason that a hollow point would expand an slow down faster in wood.

I also wonder if the speed of the powder differs in the stinger where it might perform better in a rifle?

Another point is the density and grain structure of the wood would have a factor as well.. Pine has a good whafting sent and is soft enough to simulate results.... Cant help it the engineer in me wants to be a Geek!!!

John from MD · Nov 28, 2017

"how many samples of each did you test penetration?
A sample of 1 is not often a good statistical measurement.

It does however stand to reason that a hollow point would expand an slow down faster in wood.

I also wonder if the speed of the powder differs in the stinger where it might perform better in a rifle? "

Just in case you missed part of my first post.

"My tests are not scientific and only show penetration relative to the other rounds that I fired."

That said, I have fired several of each. The results are pretty close. As far as the choice of wood, It was part of a mantle piece I had laying around. :lol:

Enfield303 · Nov 28, 2017

Thanks for posting this information. I have both the NAA .22 LR and .22 short with 1 1/8" barrels. I am impressed by what the .22 short will do with CCI solid point 29 grain bullets. I know it's not a manstopper but it is one gun you can always have with you. Cartridges of the World says it was originally designed for self defense and humans haven't gotten any tougher in the last 160 years.

John from MD · Nov 28, 2017

That little 29 gn bullet is only doing a little over 700 FPS but I doubt anyone will volunteer to stand in front of it. :innocent0

Doctor_M · Nov 28, 2017

And if that one little 29 grain projectile didn't discourage a ne'er-do-well, it's four brothers might :-)

Biggfoot44 · Nov 29, 2017

Yes , I read the disclaimers , and appreciate that.

That said , what would be enlightening would be measured velocities from the 1.625in bbl , probably moreso than oak penetration.

As speculated , as broad rule of thumb , hypervelocity ammo uses slower powder to achieve "hyper" velocities from rifle length bbls . Most published tests still show higher vels from pistols, but smaller margins than from rifles.

Due to the laws of physics , specifically the bore expansion ratios, .22shorts are much more efficient than lr from very short bbls .

And I absolutely appreciate that you were there, scrap pieces of oak were, and Vola ! But there are some materials that everybody probably has hand , that with a little prep can provide meaningful comparisons of penetration OR expansion ( but not both at same time alas) .

The materials are old phone books , and bundled newspapers, both of which soaked in water .

Phone books will give close aproximation of expansion ( but much shallower penetration). Bundled newspapers will give close aproximation of penetration, but inconsistent relative expansion sizes.

**********

By no means any criticism of the OP for his thoughtfully sharing his results with us . Just throwing some additional info out there since the broad subject of home expedient ammo testing was raised.

John from MD · Nov 29, 2017

I used to check my carry loads with wet phone books. If you ask someone for a phone book today, they look at you as if you came from Outer Space. :lol:

If the weather stays good for a couple of weeks (and my arthritis does too), I'll set up the chrony and shoot a mess of UNSCIENTIFIC shots through the screens. I'll make a new thread when I do it.

I don't know how my Chrony feels about the possibility of "taking one for the guys." :rolleyes:

(which could happen considering the aiming system you have to use with these little guys.)

Short barrel .22LR test results

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